Seed-harvesting machine.



'H. M. RHODES. SEED HARVESTING MAG HJNE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1917.

Patented July 16, 1918.

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H. M. RHODES;

SEED HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1917.

Patented July 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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SEED-HARVESTING MACHINE.

Patented July 16,1918.

Application filed February 3, 1917. Serial N 0. 146,348.

.7 '0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, IIERBERT M. RHODES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Natchez, in thecounty of. Adams and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seed-Harvestmg Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for harvesting seed-bearing plants, such as.

clovers and small grains, and has for its object the provision of a device of the class named which shall be of improved construction and more eflicient in' operation than similar devices previously known.

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specificatiomzand it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims."

In the drawings Figure l is a top plan view of a'mower attachment embodying the present invention. I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are details of one feature construction embodied in the invention. Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the sickle bar of a mowing machine, which may be of ordinary constructions Attached to the, rear of the sickle bar, by means of a hinged pivot 11,

is a receptacle 12, which, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises two compartments 13 and 14 respectively. The receptacle 12 is provided with a solid, preferably sheet metal bottom 15, which is bent upwardly at the rear to form a rear wall 16. The receptacle is inclosed on the sides by walls 17 and 18. The top of the forward chamber 13 is covered by a solid plate of sheet metal 19, which is curved upwardly and rearwardly to a partition 20, which ments. placed over the major' part of the compartment 14 and is slightly offset downwardly from the rear edge of the cover plate 19, as

indicated at 22 in Fig. 3. The upper .rear edge of the plate 21 is spaced slightly from the upper edge of the rear wall 16 to form an opening through which access may be separates the two compart-' A perforated cover plate 21 is is bridged by a trough or chute 23, hinged at 24 in such a manner that it covers the opening into the compartment 14, but may be raised to give access to this compartment. Upwardly extending side flanges 25 are arranged at each trough 23. A second receptacle 26 is positioned in the rear of the parts described and is attached to the receptacle 12 by helical springs 27. A trough or chute 28 is hinged at 29 to the receptacle 12 and lies on'the top of the receptacle 26 to form a cover therefor. The bottom of the trough 28 is perforated, as shown in Fig. 3, and the trough itself is provided with side plates 30 which inclose the end of the trough 23. A curved agitator bar 31 is journaled at 32 on the rear portion of the receptacle 26.

The side plates of the receptacle 12 are provided with upstanding flanges 33 which are curved to conform to the curvature of the cover plates of the receptacle and secured to the sides of the receptacle by rivets 34. Attached to the side plates 33 and extending upwardly therefrom, are a plurality of arms 35 which are connected at their upper ends by irregularly-shaped members 36, provided at their inner sides with cam grooves 37 Arms 38 extend upwardly from the members 36 and are connected at their upper ends to form a bearing 39 for a shaft 40. A reel 41 is secured to the shaft 40, the arms of which reel are made up of telescoping members 42 and 43. The sections 43 are normally drawn inwardly by springs 44, but are free to slide outwardly away from the shaft 40 to extend the length of the arms when tension is exerted upon the springs 44. Carried by each of the outer sections 43 of the reel arms is a cam roller 45 arrcnged to travel in the cam groove 37. The reel is rotated by a sprocket wheel 46 connected to the shaft 40, and driven by a sprocket chain 47, which may be in turn driven by a sprocket wheel connected with any suitable rotating part upon the mowing machine. Pivoted to the outer extremities of the sections 43 of the reel arms are extension members 48 to which the cross-slats 49 of the reel are attached. The rear portion of each extension 48, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, is provided with a pair of shoulders 50 and 51. A latch member 52 is pivotally mounted on a pin 53 secured to the section 43 of the reel arm, and one arm 54 of latch membe is arranged to bear against of the lateral edges ofv the .line with the section 43 of I A spring 55 normally presses'the latch into holding position. A the side of the section 4 3 and" limits the swinging movement of the ahout'its pii'ot. The latch 52 carries a trip arm 57 having a laterally extending linger 58- arranged to cooperate with a trip stop 59: attachedi to the side flange 33, as shown inEig; 2;- this stop'be-ing arranged in the path of the finger 58' asthereel is rotated ahouti its; axis. i

The operation of the: devie e is 1 as follows-z" A. mowing machine. with the invention connected therewith 1 driven. sothat the sickle enterssthe standing grain or grassto he cut, and asthe stalksr are severed from thesurface ofthe ground by the sickle: they will fall uponthe top plate 19 of the cham her113; Asl the machine moves forwardly the reel. 41 will be rotated upon its" axis; and asv will hesee'n from Fig. 2,- thecani groove 37 is so" shaped that the crosssslat s 4&9 ofithe reel will he forced downwardly intoa position near thesurface of the ground at apoint just infront' of. the-sickle bar 10. By this arrangement the vegetation being cut Will he carried into contact Withthe sickle; even thoughthe. plant-snlnay be bent over ordying upon thesurface of the ground. As the reel contiinies-to i'otate the oross-slats 4T9" will he caused hy't'hecairi groove 37 tofollow the curvature of the cover plates- 19: and" 21, thus movingthe severed stalks over the upper surface" ofthese -plates.'- If during this operation. any seed i's'shattered from thestalks it will be: carried" by the rearwardl'y" moving straw overthe surface of the plate 19 and, dep osited on i the surface of the plate 21. The in= clination of the platel9' is not very great, so -that there is little tendencyof the seeds toresist the movement along this plate produced loy the reelbars 49'; soon asthe seeds however have passed the-oif'set 22 they encounter asteeper inclination and will readilysift through tl'1c-perforations-in thisplate; By thtimethe straw has reached the uppenedge of the plate 21, alarge per ce-nta-ge of tlie-loose seeds iiiteriningled" therewith will have sifted through the perforated plate intothe receptacleIZ. It may happen, however, that some seeds still remainmixed with the-straw and" it-"is desirable to sl'ialie these seeds from the straw before the straw is finally 'eposited' upon the ground. This is done during-the passage of the straw over theperforated' plate 28 Whichcovers the receptacle 26' It will-he seenthat this receptacle is'connected withthe one-in front ofit" only by coil springs 27'- whielrpermit of considerahle freedom off movement of the receptacle-26; As the device isinoved along, the arms ofthe ag-itatorhars 3-1 will engagepin 56 extends from.-

extension 48 the surface of the earth and periodically raise the receptacleZG. off the ground and permit it to drop with considerable force. Thiscactiontinconjunction With the spring 27 Willproduce a lively agitation of the straw as it slides rearwardly over the surface oftlie perforated plate 28, and'in this al l' ofithe;seeds-remaining in the straw will be shaken therefrom through the plate 28 into the receptacle-=26? The-pivotedextensions of'thereel arms wresprovidedfi for the purpose of p resenting the straw from being;- carried upwardly as it is discharged from: the-uppered' ge-- oi? the plate=21zi Atthe time the reel arur reaches the pointin its rotation at which 1 tl'iestraaw is discharged from the plate 21, the tripstop 591 will? engage the finger 58 and disconnect the azr1ns54ifhohit-ithe: shoulder 50, permitting the extensions 48*- t'o' drop-- hacltward'ly, I as showiriiniFigs; 3 Ill 3 to: an angle-from Whiclr' any straw contzuztiiigwith the crossliar 4i9= will readily b o-discharged therefrom into the trough immediatelyafter the reel arm- 1 has passed the tripping position tlie cam'rollers545m itlleavethe -canr groorez-s 37:; and tho-.springswill movethe arms inter-their retracted? positions. s'the reel continues to: rotatemnd a fteivthe. armsha-v passed their vertical position, the exteir sions 48 will fall by gravity into a-position in which" they'areiii: wl inement with the main portions 1of-' the reel arms andl'wil'l'heimmediately locked in this position by the catch 1nemherr5'3 Whichis:forcedinto fiace hy bllC spring 55. Further rotation ofthereel arm will cause-= the camu rollers- 4:5 to: again reenter the cam groove 3'71} .afiter which 'theroperaitiouwill he repeatedi As hi -Fig": I theoutenflaaigeSQ 'of theacovenplate;for theerear receptacle 26 is inclined inwardlyifrorn theouter e ge-oftl're device; This:isxfor the purpose of directing the st'rawaav ay;- firotn the-'- standing' orgraim so that; aclearance will? he. provided fortlie wheel of 'the mower when the-meat entire crop of hay 'as" has been demonstrated by the use? of applioanfls invei-itioir in: the The different harvesting; of" such crops. varieties' of clover, such as alfalfa, Lespedezag, ampl'es' of" crops of heretofore been so;

thir character.

any, effort ha-sheen put forth alongthis line. Whth applieantsj dev' cey. however; practicall y' all of theseed which: has heretofore Inmany cases the and: White clover; a rcconspicuous ex It (lifli'cult to' collect the seeds which shatter-from these crops driring the harvmting 'operatiouthat very: little, ii

been permitted to remain upon the ground is collected, and great savings thus accomblished. 1 r

I claim 1. In combination, a devicefor severing plants from the surface of the ground, an upwardly inclined perforated plate positioned in the rear of said severing device and arrangedto receive the plants severed thereby, a receiver for 'n1aterial passing throughplate, and'm'eans for agitating said platetocause seeds to be separated thereby from said plants.

3. The-combination with a sickle, of a" screen positioned in the-rear of said sickle for receiving plants that are cut thereby, means for moving said p'lants in an unob structed course to and over said screen, means for agitating saidscreemand a receptacle positionedbeneath said screen,

at. The combination with a sickle, of a pair of screens located in the rear thereof, means for moving plants directly from said-sickle to and over said screens in an unobstructed path, and receptacles for receiving material passing through said screens.

'5. The combination with a sickle, of an upwardly inclined screen positioned in the rear thereof, a receptacle for receiving material sifted through said screen, and a second screen for receiving material discharged from said first screen and provided with a second receptacle movably connected with said first receptacle for receiving material passing through said second screen.

6. The combination with a mowing machine sickle, of an imperforate plate for receiving plants cut by said sickle, an upwardly inclined screen in the rear of said imperforate plate, and a downwardly in clined screen in the rear of said first-mentioned screen.

7. The combination with a sickle; of a table for receiving plants cut by said sickle, said table having an imperforate section adjacent said sickle, a perforated upwardly inclined section in the rear of said imperforate section, and a perforated downwardly inclined section in the rear of said upwardly inclined section; and means for re ceiving material sifted. t r g said P rated sections.

8. The combination with a sickle, of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined screen in 1 the rear of said sickle, a device for presenting plants to said sickle and moving plants severed by said sickle over the surface of said screen, and means for causing said moving device to follow the contour of said screen. 9. The combination Wltll a sickle, of an "upwardly inclined perforated table in the.

rear thereof, and a reel for moving plants cut by said sickle rearwardly over the upper surface of said table, said reel having extensible arms, and-means for causing the outer ends of said arms to follow the contour of said screen; 7

10. In combination, a device for severing plants from the surface of the ground, a reel for presenting plants to said severing de vice, means for rotating said reel, said reel having radially extensible arms, and a cam for varying the length of said reel arms as said reel rotates upon its axis to control the path of movement of said reel arms toward said sickle. 11. In combination, a sickle, a reel for presenting plants to said sickle to be cut thereby, means for rotating said reel, said reel having extensible arms, resilient means normally tending to contract said arms, and

means for forcing said arms outwardly at.

predetermined points in the rotation thereof. 12. In combination, a sickle, an upwardly curved table in the rear of said sickle, a reel arranged to cooperate with said sickle and having a minimum radius of rotation of "less length than the radius of curvature of said table, and means for varying the path of movement of said reel arms from an arc of a circle as said arms approach said sickle and for extending the arms of said reel as they pass over the surface of said table to cause the outer extremities of said arms to follow the contour of said table.

13. In combination, a table for receiving plants severed from the earth, a reel for moving the plants over the surface of said table, means for rotating said reel, said reel having extensible arms provided with jointed extremities, a cam device for causing the extremities of said arms to follow the contour of the surface of said table during the rotation of said reel, means for holding the jointed extremities of said arms in fixed position during the movement thereof over the surface of said table, and means for permitting said extremities to assume an angular position relative to said arms as said extremities leave said table.

14. In combination, a device for severing growing plants from the surface of the earth, a receptacle positioned in the rear of said severing device, a screen connected with said receptacle in osition to discharge material th r t r ugh Into aid r ept cle, means for directing plants. cut by saidisevering de": trolling;-the lengthvofvsaidarins t0 CZlzllSbhGaBSw: vice llO'Silld5S'Gr6eI1, a11dreSlllenlT'n'leanS to :extremitiesuthereof to follow-thecontour-0t-v cause said 'r-receptacleto be drawn 'for'wardly -lsaid table; jointed extensions on the ends of by said sev'erin-gdevice. z said arms; means for breaking the jointsa. 15. In combination, a sickle a receptacle of said:extensionsrto permit .theiplants tofbe Y securedto:.saidsickle in the rear-thereof,- a; readily dischargedhfrom the rear edge of 40 screen positioned abo-v-e said receptacle and said table.;- awreceptacle -for-receiviI1gseeds arranged to receive plants cut by said shattered: from saidplants and passing swirl" sickle, and; means-:for agitating said;recep' through: the perf0rations-in said table;- a tacle and-said screenas they are drawn over seconddownwardlyandjrearwardly'inclined a the surface of the ground in the rear-of said table in -i thewrear of said first-menfionedAs-5 sickle. 7 table and arrangedto receivethe plants diss I 16. In combination, asickle, aireceptacle, charged from said fir sttable, said;.second is. is resilient means forcausing said receptacle. table havinga perforated sectiom a recep-v 1": to be draWn-overthesurface of the earth in tacle arrangedz-beneatlbsaid section resil-ienb the rear of said sickle, a screen positioned:- means forlsecuring said receptaclepto said50= over said receptacleimposition to-receive sickle tobe drawn overthezground theref. plants severed-bysaidsickle, and an'agitator wwith, and an agitator arranged =-toqengage= attached to said'receptacle and'havingineans the surface ofthe earth assaid receptaole is f to cooperate with the surface oithe ground drawn thereoverandfto iinpart a v ibr-atoryover which said receptacle is drawn by said movement to said-last'rnientioneditableand 55- sickle, to cause wshakinginoveinent of' said: receptacle; v receptacle and'screen;= ;'-;:r i 18. Iii-combination, a table for' receiving-. 17. In combinationya sickle ;-aan:.upwardlysevered plants, aireel formicing; said plants. inclined table in the rear of said sickle for-flyover thersurfaceiofnsaiditable the501 1ter' exr receivingiplants cnt thereby, said tableihav tremities of the arms of said reel being 60; ing anmimperforatev section adjacent: said jointed, andclneans fonipermittingdangnlara" sickle, anshoulder in =the=crear of said in lnovementzof said extreinlties to: prevent said perforatese ct10n,-- and erforated-sectionreel from carrying the severedplantsgnp in the TQZl-lfiOffSiLld. shoul erga :reel having Wardlyaway from; saiditable;

extensibleiarinsfor presenting plantsto said: :In testimony-whereof likhave' signedamywfi" sickle and for moving saidplants over the *name to-this specification, on t is 29th day surface of' said table after they'have been of January.-:A-,--D.i1917.- out by' said'xsicklepa cam device -for con HERBERTFWM;WBHODES. 5?

Copies 'bfuthis patent mayrbeobtainedfor-fivacents. each,by-addressing-thei coinmissionemof i'atents, a

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